1960's

1960 – Radar and Associates recommends building an airport terminal to handle an passenger projections of 500,000 annual by 1967 and one million per year by 1970, and also extending the existing runway by almost 3,000 feet.

1961 –West runway is extended by 2,500 feet to accommodate larger aircraft and a new 4,400-foot east runway is added.

1963 – The San José Municipal Airport Commission is formed.

1964 – Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new airport terminal construction held on April 27. Tower controllers announce the airport’s millionth flight on July 6. San José State University Aeronautics Program moves to a five-acre site on airport land on Coleman Avenue.

1968 – Annual passenger traffic hits one million, two years earlier than the 1960 projection.

1969 –South Concourse of Terminal C is added for more airline gates and offices and the ticketing wing is expanded. SJC begins transcontinental service with United Airlines providing services to Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York.